Building-clip for tiles.



A. J. EKEN.

BUILDING CLIP FOR TILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. 1909.

944,022. v Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

@Vihmoaeo gluoenfov erratum V UNITED STAllES PATENT OFFICE.

3 ANDREW J'. EKEN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILBUR S. SAMPLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BUILDING-CLIP FOR TILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 21, 1909,

Application filed April 30, 1909. Serial No. 433,143.

. lowing 1s a specification.

This invention relates to clips for use in building partition construction and relates more particularly to that type of clips used with tile partitions and the function of which consists oflocking together a numher of tiles, whereby a partition is formed, all parts of which are securely held together and maintained against displacement and whereby a permanent substantially integral structure is formed.

As heretofore constructed, clips have been devised which either cooperate with a special form of tile manufactured for use in connection with a special'type of clip or else a clip has been used which is not adapted to lock together tiles of varying thickness and which, therefore, either slips loosely over the joinin tiles with no locking effect or is fitted in p ace with great difficulty and when the entire partition has been set up it is impossible to ascertain how many of the clips have dropped ofi inside or become otherwise displaced, leaving the tiles loose to become sooner 'or later out of alinement.

In my present invention I have devised a clip operating equally well on varying thick nesses of tile and which may be readily slipped into place so as to maintain the tiles absolutely locked fast in perfect alinem'ent, while any irre larities or rough places on the inner portion of the tile or a varying thickness of mortar 'oint between the tiles,

do not hinder or a cot the placing of the clip or its operative effect.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention I have shownin the accompanying drawing one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various .instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be. variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a perspective of a portion of a tile partition showing my novel clip in place. Fig. 2 represents a perspective of the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 3 represents an.end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 represents an end elevation of a modification thereof. Fig. 5 represents another modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings :-1 designates a clip formed of suitable material, preferably sheet metal, which is adapted to clamp a pair of tiles together in the formation of a partition.

2 designates the body portion of the clip 1 and has in the present instance integral therewith, the .side wings 3 which, as here shown, extend angularly from the body portion 2 and terminate at a point sufiiciently remote therefrom to permit the meetin edges of a pair of tiles to be inserted we between them to insure an eflicient gripping surface. It will be noted that in the preferred form the said wings 3 conver e slightly, whereby a reacting force is o tained which tends to maintain the Wings in normal position and resist any action to separate them. It will be noted that the ends 4, in the present instance, are turned back upon their respective side wings 3 and stop ust short of contacting with the wings 3, whereby a pair of rounded jaws or nosings 5 are formed, which serve as additional gripped between them.

Attention is directed to the rounded or radial corner 6 of the clip, whereby the same may be properly positioned over a joint 7 of the tiles and produce the full gripping action.

In Fig. 4 I disclose a modification wherein the wings 3' converge more rapidly, thereby magnifying the spring effect while the ends 4 are each turned outwardly and back upon the side wings 3 to form the rounded gripping aw 5 and terminate as in the preferred construction, a slight distance from the wings 3 to aid in the spring effect.

In the use of my novel clip with hollow tile partition construction, a course is formed by placing the tiles with their ends abutting and a clip spring over the meeting edges of each pair of tiles, as shown in Fig. 1, one of the wings 3 passing down in the hollow portion of each tile and thereby firmly grippin the two together, while the body portion 0 spring'members to hold firmly Whatever is the is pressed down into direct contact? properties, allows the clip to be slipped in place and securelyhold a pair of tiles, irrespective of the thickness used under normal conditions. Furthermore, the rounded nosing 5 permits the clip to be readily sprung over the tiles and if there are any irregularities in the inner surface thereof, as there usually are, the positioning of the clip is not affected but simply yields sufliciently to pass over the obstruction.

Especial attention is directed to the converging side wings of the clip in combination with the rounded nosing out of contact with the sides, as by this feature a double spring action is obtained which aids mate'- rially in maintaining the clip in position and also exerts a pressure which holds the pieces of tile securely and accurately together.

I am aware that clips for locking tiles together have heretofore been constructed, but they have been of a character adapted to cooperate with a special form of tile which has been provided with cooperating lugsor apertures with a view to receiving the locking clip. In so far as I am aware I am the first 1 in the art to devise a complete unitary clip adapted to cooperate with the ordinary hollow tile 'used 1n building construction for artition work and whereby the tile are ocked securely together, the same clip being efiiciently applied to tiles of varying thickness and operating to maintain the tiles in 40 locked posit on and wherein the danger of a displacement of the clip is absolutely eliminated; 5

It will now be apparent that I have de-.'

vised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumer: v

ated as desirable in the statement of "the invention and the. above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what v I claim as new and desire to secure by Let: ters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a clip for hollow' tiles consisting of a body portion having side wings s aced apart to receive the walls of .two ad acent tiles andspring means integral with each side wing to-form a jaw adapted to 2. As a new article of manufacture, a clip for hollow tiles consisting of a body portion having integral converging side wings spaced apart to receive the walls of two ad- 'p the wall of atile. .65

jacent tiles, and a gripping jaw on each side wing formed by turning bgck the end of each side wing to a point a j'acent the sur-- face of each wing, v p

ANDREW J.' EKEN. Witnesses 1 "v 1 D. B. RICHARDS,

WILLIAM 'S. SAMPLE. 

